Near field recording and reproducing apparatus

A recording and readout method, comprising the steps of:

• applying only a magnetic field into a plurality of areas of a magnetic layer constituting a magnetic recording medium in an area-by-area manner to record a signal in each area;
• irradiating a laser beam to produce and radiate near field electromagnetic waves onto the magnetic recording medium;
• and
• detecting the near field electromagnetic waves reflected from the magnetic recording medium, to reproduce the signal recorded in the magnetic recording medium.

A recording and readout apparatus comprising:

• a head member having a recording head to magnetically record a signal in a magnetic recording medium by applying only a magnetic field and a readout head to reproduce the signal recorded in the magnetic recording medium;
• the readout head including a laser beam emitting element, a light shielding layer disposed opposite to the magnetic recording medium and having alight transmitting portion, with a diameter smaller than a wavelength of the laser beam, to which the laser beam is radiated, to produce near field electromagnetic waves;
• and
• a detecting means to detect near field electromagnetic waves reflected from the magnetic recording medium.

A recording and readout apparatus comprising:

• a head member having a recording head to magnetically record a recording signal in a magnetic recording medium and a readout head to reproduce the signal recorded in the recording medium;
• the readout head including a laser beam emitting element, a magnetic slave layer disposed opposite the magnetic recording medium, a light shielding layer formed on a laser beam emitting element side of the magnetic slave layer and having a light transmitting portion with a diameter smaller than a laser beam wavelength of the laser beam, to which the laser beam is radiated, to produce near field electromagnetic waves;
• and
• a detecting means to detect reflected electromagnetic waves from the magnetic slave layer.

A recording and readout apparatus comprising:

• a head member having a recording head to magnetically record a signal in a magnetic recording medium by applying only a magnetic field and a readout head to reproduce the signal recorded in the magnetic recording medium;
• the readout head including a laser beam emitting element having a light emitting end opposing the magnetic recording medium;
• and
• a detecting means arranged opposite another end of the laser emitting element and to detect light reflected from the magnetic recording medium.